The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Copyright© 2000 Marsh Collection Society 235A Dalhousie Street Amherstburg, Ontario N9V1W6 (519)736-9191 Articles herein are reprinted with the permission of the Amherstburg Echo and Bowes Publishers Ltd. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced inany form without the written permission ofthe Marsh Collection Society and the Amherstburg Echo, except by a reviewer who wishes toquote briefpassages for inclusion ina review. ISSN 1480-6444 Firstprinting 2000 Printed byTri-Grraphics Brown and Associates Amherstburg, Ontario rf Introduction The Marsh Collection Society, a non-profit organization, is based on the historical collection ofJohn Marsh and his sister Helen, owners and operators ofthe Amherstburg Echo for over 50 years. They founded the Marsh Collection Society in 1983 with the intent that a research facility be opened after their deaths. Helen passed away in March, 1986 and John in February, 1993. The research centre was opened October 1, 1994. The Marsh Collection includes photographs, books, documents, postcards, artifacts and other items relating to the Town of Amherstburg, the Lower Detroit River district and the Great Lakes. The collection also contains genealogical materials and reference books. Donations of relevant items are accepted. A large part ofthe Marsh Collection is books, files and photographs relating to the marine history ofAmherstburg and the Great Lakes system. These items form the nucleus of a futrrre marine museum. The Amherstburg Echo and Bowes Publishing Ltd. have graciously allowed us to reprint the "Marine News" colunms and other relevant articles which appeared regularly in the newspaper from its first issue in November, 1874. The Echo is still in publication today, having operated continuously for 126 years, and occupies the building constructed for the Echo in 1915. Echo Soundings will be published quarterly by the Marsh Collection Society in the hope that residents of Amherstburg and other Great Lakes communitieswill read about and enjoy the rich marine history of their town.